The G2 on Westlaw

Westlaw Pros and Cons: Top 5 Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users find Westlaw to be extremely easy to use, facilitating fast and simple legal research with effective navigation. (3 mentions)

Users find Westlaw's complete and organized searches incredibly helpful, making legal research simple, fast, and easy. (3 mentions)

Users find Westlaw's organization exceptional, making legal research efficient and crucial information easily accessible. (2 mentions)

Users value the organized formatting of Westlaw, making crucial information easily accessible for decision-making. (1 mentions)

Users find Westlaw's user-friendly interface and helpful secondary sources enhance their research efficiency. (1 mentions)

Users find the complexity of the tools challenging, especially when transitioning from other research programs. (1 mentions)

Users find the lack of affordable options for Westlaw to be a significant drawback for its overall value. (1 mentions)

Users find the inefficient workflow frustrating due to inconsistent search features and limited data refinement options. (1 mentions)

Users feel Westlaw could enhance its experience by providing a greater variety of service functions for better usability. (1 mentions)

Users wish for more search options in Westlaw, as current features limit the ability to refine and sort results. (1 mentions)

5 Pros or Advantages of Westlaw

1. Ease of Use

Users find Westlaw to be extremely easy to use, facilitating fast and simple legal research with effective navigation.

See 3 mentions

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Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlaw is the top of the top"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Westlaw is extremely helpful in everyway. Their new AI tool is so great. Research is simple, fast, and easy with WL.

Verified User

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

4.0/5

"Go to for legal research"

What do you like about Westlaw?

It's got EVERYTHING, and is super easy to navigate. Not only that, it's just so familiar from law school.

2. Helpful

Users find Westlaw's complete and organized searches incredibly helpful, making legal research simple, fast, and easy.

See 3 mentions

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Alexis B.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlake is extremely user friendly and provided me with the most complete records I have requested."

What do you like about Westlaw?

The most helpful is the complete searches that are provided.

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Westlaw is the top of the top"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Westlaw is extremely helpful in everyway. Their new AI tool is so great. Research is simple, fast, and easy with WL.

3. Organization

Users find Westlaw's organization exceptional, making legal research efficient and crucial information easily accessible.

See 2 mentions

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Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you like about Westlaw?

I like the formatting, it's easy to take in a decision or appeal and the details of each case study are organized in such a way that crucial informati

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

2.5/5

"It has been a fairly good experience"

What do you like about Westlaw?

Its helpful for legal research and is well-organized

4. Accessibility

Users value the organized formatting of Westlaw, making crucial information easily accessible for decision-making.

See 1 mentions

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Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you like about Westlaw?

I like the formatting, it's easy to take in a decision or appeal and the details of each case study are organized in such a way that crucial informati

5. Document Management

Users find Westlaw's user-friendly interface and helpful secondary sources enhance their research efficiency.

Users wish for more search options in Westlaw, as current features limit the ability to refine and sort results.

See 1 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.0/5

"There are times and places where Westlaw is the best resource. Other times Lexis Nexis is the best."

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The search feature is not always consistent. I wish there were more options to refine a search, and more choices to sort and save the data which comes

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Verified User in Legal Services

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

1/22/2019

"Great Product - Bad Pricing"

3/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

WestLaw is hands down, for me, the best for legal research. I can run the same search on Lexis and get less results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

Westlaw needs to adapt to the market. Ten years ago, there weren't other startups undercutting them. Now there are and it is only a matter of time before someone does it as good as Westlaw for better prices. I hate how the contract increases every year, the outrageous secrecy on pricing, and the contract terms. WestLaw needs to come into 2019. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Laura L.

Investigative Analyst, Financial Litigation

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

1/30/2019

"Calendaring"

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

Thompson Reuters delivers great legal software for any law firm. I like their trainings and updates are often to their software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

Like any software the system might be inaccessible if the local network is down. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Estefano M.

Student

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

9/27/2018

"Useful platform for legal research"

3/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

The key system is great for tracking down relevant statutes, citations, etc. Broad applications, up-to-date insights beyond legal research. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

Search process can be daunting at times, especially when searching for a commonly used word or phrase. Mobile application can be very slow and difficult to navigate. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

12/30/2018

"Established, sterling reputation"

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

Westlaw is reputable. It is taken seriously in the industry. Great search functionality, confidence in results. Ease of use in organizing and saving items. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

It frequently times-out and logs the user out. This makes long-term, on-going searching a nightmare. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Ellen P.

Editor

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

11/1/2018

"Calendaring system that makes it easy to keep in contact"

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

Alerts everyone immediately and efficiently as well as reminding them of the scheduled events on the dash of their accounts Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

I don't have many issues. Westlaw is very expensive though. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

10/2/2018

"Westlaw--helpful, but not modernized"

3.5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

I like that it is easy to maneuver. Searching cases is simple and advanced searches are clear. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

It is simply just not modern enough. It is not visually appealing. It does not offer points to redeem like competitors. Even its color platform is just not exciting. Competitors definitely have an edge on Westlaw. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Westlaw:

Consider recommending to organizations that partner with Westlaw to consider suggesting Rewards. Competitors like Lexisnexis will definitely overtake Westlaw. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Westlaw solving and how is that benefiting you?

Westlaw helps with legal research. The only distinguishable benefits are the ability to place Westlaw cases and holdings into PDF form. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Information Services

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

2/8/2019

"Review for Westlaw database"

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

A wide variety of limiters to help narrow down your search, to make your results more specific. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

A knowledge of legal jargon and case law is often valuable when searching for specific results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering Westlaw:

As there are many options when searching, be as specific as possible in limiting your search results. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is Westlaw solving and how is that benefiting you?

Westlaw is useful when searching for possible legal issues related to research being conducted at our facility. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Government Administration

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

1/17/2019

"comprehensive legal research"

4/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

Westlaw provides comprehensive legal research from cases and laws to briefings and articles. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The search function isn't the easiest to use. It's a bit cumbersome. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Law Practice

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

11/23/2018

"Best in the market! "

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

The best out there. Though our firm still prefers Clio over Westlaw, given its new developments it has turned into a great asset for the firm.

Love their interface, calender layout, general ease of adding or taking out meetings and conferences, and adding up billing. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

It is not Clio. So, naturally a lot of billings we are able to do on Clio makes usage of Westlaw calendering less. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Legal Services

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

10/17/2018

"Excellent for Legal Practitioners on a Tight Schedule"

5/5

What do you like best about Westlaw?

When you don't have time to keep up with current events on specific law changes, Westlaw will send you a reminder. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about Westlaw?

The platform for Westlaw is rather outdated. It is not visually appealing and rather hard to maneuver. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.